Basketball: Juniors put one over the seniors | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

The cap may well fit - but it would be a grave mistake to underestimate these juniors who pack a bite more vicious than any senior's growl.

The Hastings Boys' High School junior A basketballers have upset the applecart after a stunning comeback against their "senior B" team in the final of the Hawke's Bay division one secondary schools' competition.

Down 12 points in the third quarter, the juniors took to heart the pep-talk from coach Thomas Bartlett following a timeout to claw their way back to post a historic 64-62 victory last Friday in Napier. The juniors beat the Havelock North senior side in the semifinals and overcame other senior teams, bar their HBHS seniors, in round-robin play this year to book a final berth. The HBHS seniors, minus three A players, according to Curtis Wooten, pipped their juniors twice in pool play this season.

Comprising third and fourth-formers, the juniors drew sideways glances from the word go when they entered the cauldron of predominantly year 12 and 13 pupils.

"We had a game plan and, after executing under pressure, we came out on top," a delighted Bartlett told SportToday.

"Many young teams would have crumbled under that situation. It showed in our cohesive defence leading to many easy baskets from steals and trying to apply pressure. It was our best defensive game of the year."

Wooten, who coached the seniors except when they played the juniors (teacher Greg Pierce took over), said junior co-captains Harlan Soloman and Geoffrey Heather were in his squad for the Central Region premiership next week in New Plymouth.

"They are very good and will get 30-plus minutes."

Soloman guarded his much taller Matthew Wilson with aplomb despite the senior scoring 24 points. Keeping him off the paint enabled his team-mates to pick up rebounds.

The junior carded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Heather emulated Soloman's feat with 22 points and 12 rebounds, putting his body on the line to boost team morale.

Ash Robinson applied full-court pressure defence, contributing 12 points and five assists. Mataeus Marsh controlled the tempo of the game and even though Soul Sadler did not have his best shooting night, he managed to hit a crucial three pointer in the final quarter with minutes remaining.

"It was a great team effort, and that's what we have to rely on if we want to make an impact on the national stage later this year," Bartlett said. "We cannot let this win give us an excuse to rest because we know there is huge room for improvement defensively," said the ex-0800 Easy LPG Hawks squad member, adding pedigree sides Hutt Valley High and St Pats should test HBHS juniors' mettle.

Bartlett's HBHS juniors were the first Bay team to win the tournament in 2008.